Chapter 14
Shadows in the Light
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Jack's Silent Crusade
New York's crime scene had taken a sharp turn for the worse over the past few weeks. From petty theft to organized crime, the city seemed to be spiraling out of control. Jack, dressed in his modified stealth armor, silently took to the streets at night. He stayed in the shadows, his presence only noticed by criminals who ended up incapacitated within seconds.
One night, a group of masked robbers broke into a jewelry store in Midtown. Their laughter echoed in the quiet night as they stuffed diamonds into their bags, oblivious to the shadow descending upon them.
Jack dropped silently behind one of the robbers, grabbing him by the collar and tossing him across the room with superhuman strength. The others turned, raising their weapons, but before they could fire, Jack moved with blinding speed, disarming them and knocking them out one by one.
When the police arrived, they found the robbers tied up outside the store with a note attached: "Crime doesn't pay."
Reports of the mysterious vigilante spread quickly. The media dubbed him "The Phantom" due to his stealth and silence. Meanwhile, Spider-Man was also making waves, dealing with crimes in his own unique, quippy style.
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Spidey Meets the Phantom
One evening, Spider-Man swung through the streets, chasing down a gang of armed carjackers. "Hey, guys, quick question—did you forget this isn't Grand Theft Auto?" Peter quipped, shooting webs to immobilize their car's tires.
Before he could fully subdue them, a shadow streaked past him. The next moment, the gang members were lying unconscious on the ground, their weapons dismantled. Peter landed on a nearby lamppost, spotting Jack standing in the shadows.
"Okay, seriously, who are you?" Peter asked, trying to sound casual. "I mean, I'm the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, but you're more like... the silent scary neighborhood guy."
Jack didn't respond. Instead, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Peter scratching his head.
"Cool. That's not ominous at all," Peter muttered before webbing up the gang members for the cops.
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Jack's Research on Mutants
Back at his villa, Jack sat in his lab, his AI assistant Nam displaying a list of research facilities and organizations rumored to be experimenting on mutants.
"These places are spread across the globe," Nam said, highlighting locations. "Most are off-the-grid operations with high-level security."
Jack nodded. "For now, gather all the data you can. I'm not getting involved yet, but I want to understand the mutant gene."
Nam displayed genetic schematics of the X-gene, the source of mutant abilities. Jack studied the information intently, fascinated by the complexity of mutant biology.
"Mutants are the next step in evolution," Jack murmured. "But humanity always fears what it doesn't understand."
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Jack's Medical Company
Using his identity as Jack Reaves, Jack founded NeoGenics, a medical company focused on affordable and revolutionary treatments for common diseases with help from Nam. Within a month of its launch, NeoGenics released groundbreaking cures for common diseawes and other ailments, priced to be accessible to the average person.
The public reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Social media buzzed with praise for NeoGenics and its young CEO.
"This company is doing what others wouldn't—making medicine affordable," one tweet read.
"Jack Reaves is a genius! And he's, like, what, 18? Incredible," another user commented.
NeoGenics quickly became a household name, raking in substantial profits while maintaining its reputation as a company focused on helping people. Jack funneled much of the money back into research, including his private projects on the mutant gene.
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Tony Stark's Palladium Poisoning
Meanwhile, Tony Stark was grappling with a problem of his own: the palladium core in his arc reactor was poisoning him. Desperate for a solution, he sent Happy Hogan to NeoGenics to inquire about any potential cures.
Happy arrived at NeoGenics' sleek headquarters, greeted by an AI receptionist. Moments later, Jack appeared, dressed in a sharp suit, exuding calm confidence.
"Mr. Hogan, how can I help you?" Jack asked.
Happy hesitated before replying. "Mr. Stark was wondering if your company has any research or treatments that could help with... let's call it a very specific kind of poisoning."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Specific how?"
Happy explained Tony's predicament in vague terms, avoiding any mention of the arc reactor.
Jack leaned back, thinking. "I don't have a solution for that particular problem," he said carefully. "But I'd suggest Mr. Stark revisit his father's work. He might find something useful there."
Happy relayed the message to Tony, who eventually discovered Howard Stark's old research, leading him to synthesize a new element to replace palladium—just as he did in the MCU.
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Jack's Daily Life
Despite his double life, Jack maintained a semblance of normalcy at Midtown High. He continued to chat with Gwen Stacy during classes, their friendship growing stronger each day.
One afternoon, Gwen invited Jack over to her house to work on another project. As they sat in her room, surrounded by papers and textbooks, Gwen couldn't help but steal glances at Jack.
"You're really good at this," she said, referring to his problem-solving skills.
Jack smirked. "What can I say? I have a knack for figuring things out."
As they worked, Gwen's father poked his head into the room. "How's the project coming along?"
"Great, Dad," Gwen replied. "Jack's been a huge help."
Captain Stacy nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. Just remember, no funny business."
Jack chuckled. "Don't worry, sir. I'm on my best behavior."
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S.H.I.E.L.D. Observes
S.H.I.E.L.D. continued to monitor Jack's activities, particularly NeoGenics' sudden rise to prominence. Fury was particularly interested in Jack's sudden rise and success.
"Find information on Jack Reaves and his company's."Fury instructed"
"Yes director," Hill replied.
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A World of Possibilities
Back at his villa, Jack reflected on events. The mutant gene, NeoGenics' success, and his growing presence as a vigilante were all pieces of a larger puzzle.
"The world is changing," Jack said to Nam. "And I intend to shape that change."
With a smirk, he activated his lab's holographic interface, diving back into his research, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
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End of Chapter